'This is who we are' - Cristiano Ronaldo glowing after statement win against Al-Ittihad as Portuguese icon and Sadio Mane send Al-Nassr top of Saudi Pro League table

Mane lit up the night with a thunderous opener inside nine minutes, smashing home a first-time finish that left goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic grasping at thin air. If that didn’t silence the champions, Mane twisted the knife just before the half-hour mark with a perfect cross that Ronaldo buried with a trademark header.

That goal wasn’t just a dagger for Al-Ittihad; it was another step in Ronaldo’s relentless march toward history. The Portuguese superstar now sits on 946 career goals, leaving him tantalisingly close to the mythical 1,000 mark. Just 54 more and he will hit a milestone no player in football history has ever achieved.

After the dust settled, Ronaldo took to Instagram to rally the faithful. His message was short and dripping with defiance: “This is Al-Nassr! This is who we are!”

For Al-Nassr, it marked a fourth win in four league outings, a perfect start that has propelled them to the top of the standings with 12 points. They are now three clear of their bitter rivals Al-Ittihad, who were left shell-shocked by their first defeat of the campaign.

The Saudi Pro League leaders will now turn their attention to continental duties. Next up is a trip to face Iraqi giants Al Zawraa in the AFC Champions League Two. With their confidence sky-high and momentum building, few would bet against Ronaldo and Mane continuing their red-hot form on the Asian stage.